Sunday, March 2

New Releases - March 2014

Every year, I look forward to March because that's when the new installments of some of my favorite urban fantasy series are released. It's also when the number of new releases start increasing... This year, well it's true for the former, not so much for the latter. Still, lots of great books coming out... want to see which ones?

March 04

The Rebel Pirate by Donna Thorlandpublished by New American Library

1775, Boston Harbor. James Sparhawk, Master and Commander in the British Navy, knows trouble when he sees it. The ship he’s boarded is carrying ammunition and gold into a country on the knife’s edge of war. Sparhawk’s duty is clear: confiscate the cargo, impound the vessel and seize the crew. But when one of the ship’s boys turns out to be a lovely girl, with a loaded pistol and dead-shot aim, Sparhawk finds himself held hostage aboard a Rebel privateer.

Sarah Ward never set out to break the law. Before Boston became a powder keg, she was poised to escape the stigma of being a notorious pirate’s daughter by wedding Micah Wild, one of Salem’s most successful merchants. Then a Patriot mob destroyed her fortune and Wild played her false by marrying her best friend and smuggling a chest of Rebel gold aboard her family’s ship.

Now branded a pirate herself, Sarah will do what she must to secure her family’s safety and her own future. Even if that means taking part in the cat and mouse game unfolding in Boston Harbor, the desperate naval fight between British and Rebel forces for the materiel of war—and pitting herself against James Sparhawk, the one man she cannot resist.

Genre: Historical FictionSeries: Renegades of the Revolution, Book #2

Ames: It's no secret I have a thing for cross-dressing heroines and lady pirates. LOL This book ticks both boxes and is a historical fiction to boot. It's the second book in a series and I do plan on reading book 1 first. But I only found out about it because of The Rebel Pirate. The series sounds interesting!

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishoppublished by New American Library (ROC)

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Genre: Urban FantasySeries: The Others, Book #2

Nath: I've been waiting for this book for a whole year! Can't wait to read it. I loved Written in Red and hopefully, Murder of Crows will be as good!

Ames: I still haven't read Written in Red but if MoC is just as good, I'll be sure to fix that right away!

Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuirepublished by DAW

When Alex Price agreed to go to Ohio to oversee a basilisk breeding program and assist in the recovery of his psychic cousin, he didn't expect people to start dropping dead. But bodies are cropping up at the zoo where he works, and his girlfriend—Shelby Tanner, an Australian zoologist with a fondness for big cats—is starting to get suspicious.

Worse yet, the bodies have all been turned partially to stone...

The third book in the InCryptid series takes us to a new location and a new member of the family, as Alex tries to balance life, work, and the strong desire not to become a piece of garden statuary. Old friends and new are on the scene, and danger lurks around every corner.

Of course, so do the talking mice.

Genre: Urban FantasySeries: InCryptid, Book, Book #3

Nath: I enjoyed, but didn't love, the first two books in the InCryptid series. Still, I have to say, I'm particularly looking forward to Half-Off Ragnarok because of the change of protagonist. I think it'll be fun! :P

What a Woman Wants by Judi Fennellpublished by Berkley

What happens when three irresistibly sexy brothers lose a poker bet to their enterprising sister? They get hired out for her housecleaning venture. Now, the Manley Maids are at your service. Satisfaction guaranteed. It’s what a woman wants...

Resort entrepreneur Sean Manley was all set to buy an historic mansion at a great price, making a name for himself while making millions, when the seller and a poker bet change the game. Now he’s in the place as a hunky male maid and there’s one more complication: Livvy Carolla.

The house is Livvy’s inheritance. Her plan? Unload it to the highest bidder and use the cash to start her own bakery business. One look at "the help” and she’s hot to take him with her. Until she finds out he’s got a secret agenda.

But when Sean falls for the free-spirited, strong-willed Livvy, he has new ideas for the estate—and Livvy’s part in it. If all goes well, they’ll both be getting what they want. And then some.

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: Manley Maids, Book #1

Nath: I think this is Ms Fennell's debut. I find the cover and the premise to be cute :P

Turn Up the Heat by Kimberly Kincaidpublished by Kensington (Zebra)

"It's not you."

There are only so many times a girl can hear those words before she believes that it is, in fact, very much her. Unexpectedly jilted by her locally famous boyfriend and haunted by a boss who makes Attila the Hun look like a lap dog, Bellamy Blake does what any self-respecting girl in her shoes would do. She rounds up her two best girlfriends and makes plans to get the hell out of Dodge.

But Bellamy's escape plan takes a nose dive on the side of rural route 164 when her transmission self-destructs, leaving her in the middle of a cell phone dead zone with nothing but her wits. Oh, and Shane Griffin, the hottest mechanic who's ever checked under her hood.

Yet this small-town man isn't all he seems. Can Shane and Bellamy prove that sometimes the most unlikely ingredients make the most deliciously sexy mix?

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: Pine Mountain, Book #1

Nath: I think what got me was the first sentence of the blurb, "It's not you." This one is on my radar, but I'll wait for reviews before picking it up...

16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtlerpublished by Sourcebooks Fire

Heart attacks happen to other people #thingsIthoughtweretrue

When Morgan's mom gets sick, it's hard not to panic. Without her mother, she would have no one—until she finds out the dad who walked out on her as a baby isn't as far away as she thought...

Adam is a stuck-up, uptight jerk #thingsIthoughtweretrue

Now that they have a summer job together, Morgan's getting to know the real Adam, and he's actually pretty sweet...in a nerdy-hot kind of way. He even offers to go with her to find her dad. Road trip, anyone?

5000 Twitter followers are all the friends I need #thingsIthoughtweretrue

With Adam in the back seat, a hyper chatterbox named Amy behind the wheel, and plenty of Cheetos to fuel their trip, Morgan feels ready for anything. She's not expecting a flat tire, a missed ferry, a fake girlfriend...and that these two people she barely knew before the summer started will become the people she can't imagine living without.

Genre: Young AdultSeries: n/a

Nath: Sounds interesting and it has a road trip in it :P

March 11

Night Broken by Patricia Briggspublished by Berkley (Ace)

An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Genre: Urban FantasySeries: Mercy Thompson, Book #8

Nath: Woooohoooo! Mercy Thompson is one of the urban fantasy series that is still going strong out there, so definitively picking this book up! Not super happy about Adam's ex coming back in the picture, but I'm sure Mercy can handle it :)

Ames: I'm all caught up on this series! It's a miracle! Wooohooooooo! I worked hard to get to get to this moment. LOL So yeah, can't wait to get my hands on this one. :P

Perfect Catch by Sierra Deanpublished by Samhain

Is their love a home run, or merely a pop fly?

Minor league umpire Alice Darling loves everything about baseball. That means hunky ball players are strictly off limits—dating one would be professional suicide. With a young daughter and a brother to care for, she can’t afford to slip up.

Truth is, as a young, stupid, nineteen-year-old townie, she did once date a player. That’s how she wound up with her precious, nine-year-old daughter…and a determination to never make that mistake again. Alex Ross’s arrival in Florida for spring training, though, shakes her resolve in a big way.

Alex, a catcher for the Major League’s San Francisco Felons, has never let much get in the way of his game. One look at Alice changes everything, and he finds himself pursuing her with a single-minded purpose that plays hell with his concentration.

Booted back to the minors, he returns to Florida with his tail between his legs to work on his swing…and heat things up with Alice. But when rumors of their affair hit the sports blogosphere, Alice’s career is put in jeopardy, and their love starts to look more like a strikeout than a home run.

Warning: When a catcher struggling with his swing meets a stubborn single-mom umpire, his bat won’t be the only thing that heats up. Contains car sex, bed sex, sex sex, and a little angst for good measure.

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: Boys of Summer, Book #2

Ames: I read and really enjoyed Pitch Perfect last year so I've been interested in the next book.

Aftershock by Sylvia Day

published by Cosmo Red Hot Reads

When it came to playing games, my lover Jax was a master strategist. He pulled strings behind the closed doors of D.C.’s most powerful political players, and somehow still found time to nearly sideline my career. What he didn’t know was that when I didn’t like the rules, I threw them out and made my own. I wasn’t going to let Jax get away with it. I wasn’t going to let him get away at all.

I loved Jax enough that it was impossible to give up. Jax loved me enough that giving up was the only end he’d consider. He didn’t think I could swim with the sharks. It was entirely my pleasure to show him that I’d already dived in...

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: Afterburn & Aftershock #2

Ames:Sylvia Day is an auto-buy author for me. So even though I haven't read Afterburn yet, for sure I'll be getting Aftershock.

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowskipublished by Random House Publishing

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.

So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

Genre: Young AdultSeries: n/a

Nath: I'm still not sure about this one, but it's on my radar because I've read Ms Mlynowski before and enjoyed her books :)

March 18

Sweet Disorder by Rose Lernerpublished by Samhain

Nick Dymond enjoyed the rough-and-tumble military life until a bullet to the leg sent him home to his emotionally distant, politically obsessed family. For months, he’s lived alone with his depression, blockaded in his lodgings.

But with his younger brother desperate to win the local election, Nick has a new set of marching orders: dust off the legendary family charm and maneuver the beautiful Phoebe Sparks into a politically advantageous marriage.

One marriage was enough for Phoebe. Under her town’s by-laws, though, she owns a vote that only a husband can cast. Much as she would love to simply ignore the unappetizing matrimonial candidate pushed at her by the handsome earl’s son, she can’t. Her teenage sister is pregnant, and Phoebe’s last-ditch defense against her sister’s ruin is her vote—and her hand.

Nick and Phoebe soon realize the only match their hearts will accept is the one society will not allow. But as election intrigue turns dark, they’ll have to cast the cruelest vote of all: loyalty...or love.

Warning: Contains elections, confections, and a number of erections.

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: Lively St. Lemeston, Book #1

Ames: I have enjoyed all of Rose Lerner's books so far and I anxious for more. :P I think the set up for this one is interesting.

March 24

The Submission Gift by Solace Amespublished by Carina Press

Newlyweds Jay and Adriana had a happy marriage and a spectacular sex life—until tragedy struck. Wounded in a car accident, Jay spent a year recuperating while Adriana worked overtime as a chef to pay their bills. Though he's made nearly a full recovery, some aspects of their intimate play will never be the same. It's a small price to pay, all things considered.

But when a long struggle with the insurance company results in an overdue payout, Jay has a plan. He'll take some of it and hire a high-end rent boy who specializes in sexual dominance. Not for him, but as a gift for Adriana, for taking care of him for the past twelve months.

Paul is the handsome stranger they choose…and the one who changes everything. What starts out as a onetime session to fulfill a fantasy turns into something bigger than all of them. But when the money runs out and Paul's dangerous past resurfaces, the sacrifices required to stay together may end up tearing them apart…

Genre: Contemporary Erotic RomanceSeries: LA Doms, Book #2

Ames: I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Dom Project, and I am looking forward to reading more from Solace Ames.

March 25

Shadow Spell by Nora Robertspublished by Berkley

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken...

A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape—by a long-awaited kiss.

Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted—until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle.

Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself—and their friendship—to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves…

Genre: Paranormal RomanceSeries: The Cousin O'Dwyer Trilogy, Book #2

Nath:It's Nora Roberts, that should say it all. Wasn't a huge fan of the first book... I don't know, Ms Roberts magical series are always hit and miss for me and I think this one is a miss so far... but I want to own all of her books so I'll still pick it up :)

Ames: I haven't read the first one yet but I'll be picking this one up right away for my mom. She reads Nora too. :P

Waiting on You by Kristan Higginspublished by Harlequin

Does being nobody's fool mean that you're nobody's love?

Colleen O'Rourke is in love with love... just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart... an experience Colleen doesn't want to have again, thanks. Since then, she's been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.

But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who's ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they've got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: Blue Heron, Book #3

Nath:I enjoyed Ms Higgins, but I haven't read this series so far because the reviews has been so-so. But I'm liking the sound of this one :) Hopefully, it'll be a hit for me.Ames: I like the sound of this one too. I like that the heroine is a bartender.Sweet Talk Me by Kieran Kramerpublished by St. Martin's Press

He’s sure got a way with words...

The last person True Maybank expected to run into while picking up her wedding gown was country music superstar Harrison Gamble. Years ago, when they were small-town teens in Biscuit Creek, South Carolina, they shared a forbidden night of passion. Now that she’s about to settle down, True’s love affair with the handsome crooner is a thing of the past. Or is it? From the moment he says hello, she has to fight swooning like an adoring fan.

Can she resist his charms?

Today he’s rich, famous, and on every woman’s hot list. But back in the day, Harrison wasn’t good enough for debutante True. Since then she’s had her fair share of marital prospects, including the perfect Southern gentleman she’s about to settle down with. Is Harrison the only one to realize the mistake True’s about to make? Can the society girl and the sexy singer make music together—this time around?

Genre: Contemporary RomanceSeries: n/a

Nath:Interesting, Ms Kramer is writing a contemporary romance! You'll have to let me know how it turns out, Ames.Ames: I will! From the second I heard about this one I've been waiting for its release. Can't wait to read it!Between the Devil and Ian Eversea by Julie Anne Longpublished by Harpercollins Publisher (Avon)

She might look like an angel...

The moment orphaned American heiress Titania “Tansy” Danforth arrives on English shores she cuts a swath through Sussex, enslaving hearts and stealing beaux. She knows she's destined for a spectacular titled marriage—but the only man who fascinates her couldn't be more infamous...or less interested.

...but it takes a devil to know one...

A hardened veteran of war, inveterate rogue Ian Eversea keeps women enthralled, his heart guarded and his options open: why should he succumb to the shackles of marriage when devastating good looks and Eversea charm make seduction so easy?

...and Heaven has never been hotter.

When Ian is forced to call her on her game, he never dreams the unmasked Tansy—vulnerable, brave, achingly sensual—will tempt him beyond endurance. And fight as he will, this notorious bachelor who stood down enemies on a battlefield might finally surrender his heart...and be brought to his knees by love.

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: Pennyroyal Green, Book #9

Ames: I really enjoy Julie Anne's writing and this is one series I want to try and catch up on this year. I have actually read a few of the earlier books, so it's not a lost cause for me yet. haha

Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa Jamespublished by Harpercollins Publisher (Avon)

Having made a fortune, Thorn Dautry, the powerful bastard son of a duke, decides that he needs a wife. But to marry a lady, Thorn must acquire a gleaming, civilized façade, the specialty of Lady Xenobia India.

Exquisite, head-strong, and independent, India vows to make Thorn marriageable in just three weeks.

But neither Thorn nor India anticipate the forbidden passion that explodes between them.

Thorn will stop at nothing to make India his. Failure is not an option.

But there is only one thing that will make India his—the one thing Thorn can't afford to lose...

His fierce and lawless heart.

The hero of Three Weeks With Lady X is Tobias, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Villiers. Tobias appears in the last two books as a young boy.

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: Desperate Duchesses, Book #7

Ames: Ha! Another series I'm all caught up on. And I can't wait! Love James' writing.

Being good has worked out very badly for Lady Olivia Archer. All she has to show for four seasons on the marriage mart is the nickname Prissy Missy. Her prospects are so bleak that her parents have betrothed her to a stranger with a dire reputation. If Phinneas Cole—aka The Mad Baron—wants a biddable bride, perhaps Olivia can frighten him off by breaking every ladylike rule.

Phinn has admired Olivia’s poise and refinement from afar…qualities that appear to have vanished now that they are officially engaged. This Olivia is flirtatious, provocative, and wickedly irresistible. She’s not at all the woman he bargained for, yet she’s the only one he wants.

He’s determined to woo her. She’s determined to resist. But Olivia is discovering there’s nothing so appealing as a fiancé who’s mad, bad, and dangerously seductive…

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: Bad Boys & Wallflowers, Book #2

Nath:Sigh. I haven't read the first book yet, but I've enjoyed Ms Rodale writing in the past, so this one is also on my radar. I guess that's why our list of new releases are always so long right?Ames: I haven't read the first book either but this one sounds really cute.

Sensible and lonely, Olivia Mather survives by her wits—and her strict policy of avoiding trouble. But when she realizes that the Duke of Marwick might hold the secrets of her family’s past, she does the unthinkable, infiltrating his household as a maid. She’ll clean his study and rifle through his papers looking for information.

Alastair de Grey has a single reason to live: vengeance. More beautiful than Lucifer, twice as feared, and thrice as cunning, he’ll use any weapon to punish those who fooled and betrayed him—even an impertinent maid who doesn’t know her place. But the more fascinated he becomes with the uppity redhead, the more dangerous his carefully designed plot becomes. For the one contingency he forgot to plan for was falling in love…and he cannot survive being fooled again.

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: Rules for the Reckless, Book #2

Ames: I'm a big fan of Duran's and this one sounds cute. I'm not a big fan of revenge plots, but the fake maid thing has me intrigued enough to overlook that.

After the Scandal by Elizabeth Essexpublished by St. Martin's Press

In English society, the rules of engagement have stood the test of time. Until a Reckless Bride falls deeply, scandalously in love...

Can an indecent proposal

When Lady Claire Jellicoe agreed to a walk in the moonlight, she never imagined her titled companion might have brutal motives. Nor could she have dreamed up such a brave rescue by the most unexpected savior of all: an inscrutable nobleman with a daring plan of escape—and a deliciously tempting embrace...

Lead to everlasting love?

Timothy Evans, the Duke of Fenmore, has palmed more treasures than he can count. Even for a man who grew up thieving in London’s stews, a stolen bride should be beyond the pale. But Fenmore won’t let scandal ruin the spirited beauty’s reputation. And now that she’s stolen his heart, how can he ever let her go…?

Genre: Historical RomanceSeries: The Reckless Brides, Book #4

Nath: Have been enjoying this series a lot so looking forward to this one.

Ames: Same here. I also think that cover is pretty.

Third Degree by Julie Crosspublished by Flirt

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

Genre: New AdultSeries: N/A

Nath:Yay, another New Adult book by Ms Cross! I really enjoyed her writing in the Letters to Nowhere series and am really happy to have something else by her to read ;) And this one sounds good!Ames: I agree! I enjoy Cross' writing and this one sounds like a good read to tide me over until the next Letters novella. :P